Côte-Nord Mining Railway Company Inc. is proposing the construction and operation of a railway network in the Côte-Nord and Labrador regions, but the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) is looking for the public’s help to determine if an assessment is required.
“To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment,” the CEAA wrote September 6, 2012.
Côte-Nord would transport ore daily on a 550-km railway in trains containing up to 250 cars and five locomotives.
The project would include handling and storage facilities located at the Port of Sept-Îles in Pointe-Noire.
According to the company, the construction phase of the project should begin in early 2014.
Written comments must be submitted by September 26, 2012.
The massive Canpotex Potash Terminal Project is nearing the end of its three-year environmental assessment in British Columbia.
The public comment stage commenced September 7, 2012 for the project, which would see the province’s Prince Rupert Port Authority team with Canpotex to develop an export terminal, rail, road and utilities corridor for the popular fertilizer.
Recent estimates suggest that global demand for the soil nutrient potash, key for growing crops like corn, could climb upwards of 60 million tonnes in 2013.
According to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), which commenced the Canpotex assessment in May 2009, no significant adverse biological, health, environmental or heritage effects are expected to result from the project.
Public comments on the agency’s 87-page report on the project can be submitted to the CEAA until October 5, 2012.
In a statement on the potash project, the agency says, “on July 12, 2010, a series of amendments to the [Canadian Environmental Assessment] Act came into force. As part of these amendments, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is playing an enhanced role in the environmental assessment of this project as it will perform the duties and functions of the responsible authority in relation to this project until the submission of the Comprehensive Study Report to the Minister of the Environment."
---Article originally appeared on EcoLog.com on September 14, 2012-----